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Original poster

Operation Stack on the M20 - anyone in a car experienced it?

80 replies

Ladytron · 16/07/2015 14:46

As opposed to a lorry driver, that is! As I understand it, car drivers heading towards the Eurotunnel at Folkestone have to exit the M20 at j8 (?) and use the A20 due to the lorries parked up on the M20.

Is this correct? Do you use the A20 for a while and then get back on the M20 further along? Or A20 all the way to Folkestone?

We are travelling next week and I am getting anxious about how much time we will have to allow in order to make our Eurotunnel slot. It might be me, but I don't think the information given on their website is very clear!

Thanks for any info!

OP posts:

basildonbond · 23/07/2015 06:36

This is the text I got from euro tunnel:

A20 access slip road closure: Please use M20 Jct 11A to gain access to UK Check in. Take extra care as a short diversion is in place.

In reality there's nowhere else to go so it's not hard - you just follow all the other cars

SugarPlumTree · 23/07/2015 06:43

Useful thread. We've held off booking transport but need to address it imminently.

spiky54 · 23/07/2015 07:27

Currently having breakfast in Premier Inn and looking gloomily at the eurotunnel website which is talking about delays of 60 minutes at the terminal because of 'an incident'.

Callmecordelia · 23/07/2015 07:34

The A20 entrance for cars to Eurotunnel has been closed for weeks. The only entrance is via junction 11a on the M20. Tourist traffic is let through (apparently) when stack has closed it to freight.

MrsUltracrepidarian · 23/07/2015 09:54

Thanks, I was only looking at Google maps, so again, pls ignore me
Well done to your DS Spikey hope the rest of this holiday is lovely!

spiky54 · 23/07/2015 10:19

Just waiting at Folkestone now..and waiting... and waiting

SugarPlumTree · 23/07/2015 10:55

Oh dear Spiky. It is saying 30 mins wait to check in then about 2.5 hours delay.

I've just booked the Premier Inn and now getting cold feet.

spiky54 · 23/07/2015 11:06

I know! We are now at terminal just waiting for our letter to be called - they're on B and we're E. Letters seem to be coming round steadily, if slowly. When are you going?

SugarPlumTree · 23/07/2015 12:00

Hoping you don't see this as are on the train Spiky ! Have some in case you aren't .

We're due to go in two weeks, I need to decide what we're doing by the end of today.

spiky54 · 23/07/2015 15:54

Once we were on the train it was fabulously quick. Left Ashford at 8am, touched French soil at 2pm their time. So 6 hours to do what should be, what? A 2 hour journey?

SugarPlumTree · 23/07/2015 16:08

Oh dear I'm glad you're over now though - do you have far on the other side ?

DH and I are having a text conversation and can't decide what to do. There aren't many options though really with the ferry strike though.

Callmecordelia · 23/07/2015 17:40

Kent Police are saying stack will be on until Sunday at the earliest, and is extending to junction 11. Great.

iwantgin · 23/07/2015 20:12

Glad you got over spiky

Fingers crossed for everyone else - our crossing is next Friday.

Can't get over excited knowing that there might be problems at the start of the journey.

sugarplum can you take an alternate ferry route? Newhaven-Dieppe isn't too long.

SugarPlumTree · 23/07/2015 21:02

We bit the bullet and booked Eurotunnel figuring that allowing fair time difference it took Spiky 5 hours today. The Newhaven route is 4 hours plus would add an hour and a half so probably not much differremceand we had clubcard voucher.

What time are you going Iwantgin and have you got far I go first ? We'be decided to come up night before and stay in Folkestone to split it.

Lady at Eurotunnel said it half been running smoothly for a few days before today and they will do their best to accommodate you if you run into traffic problems with Stack, they give you 2 hours leeway either side anyway accirding to her. By 7pm when I got through the 2 hour delay was apparently starting to reduce. Hard to get through though, think everyone was ringing for info.

iwantgin · 24/07/2015 07:12

That's good news sugarplumtree - that they are giving a late pass. It's kind of an extreme situation at the moment isn't it.

We go next Friday - have a 4.5/5 hour drive usually to get to Folkestone. I think we will allow an extra hour or so. I really don't want to be late getting into France - as planned it to try and avoid too much driving on Black Saturday! ;)

When is your journey?

I am following Eurotunnel, DFDS Ferries, Kent Police and Kent Police RDU on Twitter - so SHOULD be all up to date info.

Just want to get there- not too bothered about getting home again

Good luck everyone - and hope things aren't too bad.

eandh · 24/07/2015 07:15

Def allow enough time I live in Maidstone and the impact on all the surrounding areas is massive. My journey home from work should take 15-20 minutes if op stack on it can take up to an hour (and I don't even use the M20 its just the volume of traffic diverting around)

SugarPlumTree · 24/07/2015 07:41

We're the Friday after you Iwantgin DH and I said the same about getting home !

I feel so sorry for all the Kent locals affected by this on a daily basis, what a nightmare

Mawgatron · 24/07/2015 09:21

Oh god. This is making me panic about us next sat (1st). Google maps says it should take two hours (on a good day) to get to Folkestone from where we are (about 40 mins north of London). Our train is at 12.50 so we are blatantly going to get caught in the horrific mid morning snarl aren't we? What time would you lovely people advise setting off? I'm debating whether to just bite the bullet and book into a hotel on the Friday night...

Callmecordelia · 24/07/2015 09:51

Personally, if I was coming from the M25 this is what I would do, if Stack had been on in the 24 hours before I was due to get the train. Come down the M2, stay on it past Faversham, don't try to go to the M20 at Ashford. Drop down to Folkestone via Hawkinge, and then go the short distance back up the motorway to junction 11 and then off at 11a for the tunnel. That way, if stack is on between junctions 8 and 9, which is where it is mostly, you've gone round it completely and come out on the other side.

Usually when stack is on the M2 moves. It's probably going to be slower than usual, but it doesn't normally stop although it did this week. If you go through stack and the official diversion, the highways agency says to allow, as a rough guide, three times the usual journey time.

spiky54 · 24/07/2015 14:10

I would definitely stay nearby if you can, as we did - reduces the stress levels. I'd be tempted to try somewhere in Folkestone.

The actuality was less stressful than the reality - Eurotunnel working their socks off to try to make things as smooth as possible - lots of friendly patient staff around. And now we're bombing southwards in 29 degree heat it all seems a distant memory!

MrsUltracrepidarian · 24/07/2015 14:56

I have been on Eurotunnel many times, and although it can seem daunting when they say 60 mins etc delay as you arrive, IME they usually seem to make it less than that, and combine letters together, so keep an eagle eye on the letter changes.
Agree about staying nearby and making it part of the hol - fish & chips by the sea and night in a b&b with Full English Brekk!

pootlemama · 24/07/2015 16:31

We did this diversion today. It took 2h20 minutes to take the operation stack diversion (from where they brought us off at J8 to check-in at the terminal). We actually missed our crossing but were allowed onto the next one no questions asked. Once in the terminal a slight delay to the train departures (maybe 20mins) and then a breeze! Good luck to everyone travelling & hapy hols. X

3catsandcounting · 24/07/2015 18:27

We're staying at the Premier Inn in Folkestone the night before we travel to France (next week).
I know it's normally really quick to get to the tunnel but will we have any delays/diversions? Anyone know?

Callmecordelia · 24/07/2015 18:32

3cats do you mean from the hotel to Eurotunnel, or getting to the hotel? It's a bit early to predict next week, but I suggest monitoring Kent Police on Facebook. They are quick to post if Stack is being implemented.

MrsUltracrepidarian · 24/07/2015 18:45

I hope everyone staying a the Premier in Folkestone will remember to wear their MN scarves - MN meetup!

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